Tuesday will be the beginning of the school year for all districts in Ravalli
County. Norman Kern
is again at the helm of the Stevensville schools. High school instructors
will be Milo Long, Miss Marie Nagovsky, Howard Warrick,
Chilton Allison, Miss Marie Kochta, Miss Eugenia Alexander.
The grade teachers are Leonard Nelson, principal; Miss Harriet Metcalf,
Miss Madge Manuel, Miss Ruth Jorgensen, Miss Silva Briner,
Mrs. LaVerne Palmer, Miss Beth Reynolds, and Miss Joyce Hickey.
Ravalli Republican
September 1, 1938

1939

BAD SCHOOL FIRE
Stevensville Structure was Struck by LightningThe Stevensville high school was struck by lightning shortly after 5
o'clock Tuesday afternoon and was almost immediately enveloped in flames.
The bolt found its way into the roof of the new annex which was built two
years ago at a cost of $15,000, and great damage to two class rooms, the
library and the gymnasium, which the annex housed, resulted. Book loss alone
was set at approximately $1,000. Smoke and water added to the fire damage
and it was expected the loss would reach several thousand dollars. The fire
was discovered by the janitory, Leo Cook, as he was preparing to clean the
gym. He said a ball of fire descended on the place and that he was somewhat
stunned by the bolt. Telephone wires had been put out of commission by the
lightning and by the time he had summoned help the fire had gained considerable
headway. The firemen succeeded in getting the blaze under control by the
time the Hamilton Fire Department reached the scene after a quick trip in
response to a call for help.
The commencement exercises for the Stevensville high schoolseniors
was to have been held in the gym, but a quick change in plans was necessary
and Dr. A.L. Strand, president of Montana State College, delivered the address
as the Federated Church instead. The brick addition which received the full
benefit of the lightning strike was completed in 1937.
Ravalli Republican, May 18, 1939